Labour MP for Norwich North, Ian Gibson, is campaigning against proposals to create a faith academy school in Norwich jointly run by self-proclaimed Christian businessman Graham Dacre and the Bishop of Norwich.
Ian Gibson's local newspaper reports him as saying: “I feel faith schools are discriminatory and are
against what the vast majority of people want in this country. They
take away from and weaken other schools in the area, and the local
education authority could do just as well to build its own schools and
they could all work together with other Norwich schools.
“I
feel the county council is taking the easy option with this. There is
no evidence that these schools are more successful, and I will
passionately fight against it and I urge the public to get behind me on
this.”
He was backed by the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, Norman Lamb, who said:
“I'm not a great fan of increasing the number of faith schools, even
though I acknowledge that there are some excellent ones around.
“It's
questionable to split people on the grounds of faith. I would not like
all Christians, say, or all Muslims to attend only Christian or Muslim
schools. I think it can be dangerous in terms of dividing society. Just
look at Northern Ireland as the ultimate example of that.”
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